Ball State scores 20 unanswered in 2nd half, beats UAB 51-31
Dunner returns kickoff for a TD
Mailik Dunner responds to a UAB touchdown by taking the kickoff 93 yards to the house.
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Malik Dunner returned a kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown and Ball State scored 20 unanswered points in the second half for a 51-31 victory over UAB on Saturday.
Ball State (1-1) took its opening possession of the second half 65 yards in nine plays for James Gilbert's 1-yard TD plunge, extending its lead to 28-17. He added another short TD run early in the fourth.
UAB quarterback A.J. Erdely ran for his third TD late in the third to pull within 31-24, but Dunner returned the ensuing kickoff to start the Cardinals' scoring run.
Ball State's opening drive of the game went 12 plays and 65 yards, culminating with Dunner's 8-yard touchdown run. Riley Neal's 15-yard pass to Danny Pinter made it 14-3 midway through the second quarter.
UAB (1-1) answered with a pair of Erdely touchdown runs -- of 41 and 18 yards -- to take a 17-14 lead, but Ball State came right back as Caleb Huntley busted one up the middle for a 52-yard touchdown run and led 21-17 at intermission.
Erdely threw for 168 yards and added 77 yards on the ground.
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Game Information
2023 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
SMU | 8-0 | 11-3 |
Tulane | 8-0 | 11-3 |
UTSA | 7-1 | 9-4 |
Memphis | 6-2 | 10-3 |
South Florida | 4-4 | 7-6 |
Rice | 4-4 | 6-7 |
Navy | 4-4 | 5-7 |
North Texas | 3-5 | 5-7 |
UAB | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Charlotte | 2-6 | 3-9 |
Tulsa | 2-6 | 4-8 |
Temple | 1-7 | 3-9 |
East Carolina | 1-7 | 2-10 |
2023 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Miami (OH) | 7-1 | 11-3 |
Ohio | 6-2 | 10-3 |
Bowling Green | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Buffalo | 3-5 | 3-9 |
Akron | 1-7 | 2-10 |
Kent State | 0-8 | 1-11 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Toledo | 8-0 | 11-3 |
Northern Illinois | 5-3 | 7-6 |
Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 6-7 |
Western Michigan | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Ball State | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Central Michigan | 3-5 | 5-7 |